I took on the prudential ride London 100
In simple terms it's a bike ride on closed streets from central London out to Surrey and finishes back in central London on the mall and covers a total of 100 miles and you have to complete it in around 8 and a half hours or so they say, well that's what I thought anyway
Training
Well if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook I firstly decided to try and take on this challenge in January this year after coming out of hospital still with a poor lung function and feeling no better mentally or physically and after nearly three years of losing my 2.8 fev1 lung function and having dropped as low as 1.7 approx 40% lung function at one point and not getting above 2.3 fev1 in over two years I felt honestly like I was starting to fail within myself I felt like the beginning of the end had become true and I was about to start slipping into worse times. And still not having decided if I ever want a transplant or not I felt like it was all failing including the hospital and the doctors because it seemed that no matter what Ivs I was on when I went to hospital nothing was ever working so I thought fuck it. I'm not relying on others I'm going to try and do this myself. I decided that I was going to get on my bike and ride some miles and as it turned out a lot of miles. And that's when i decided I needed something to ride for something to aim for and having loved watching cycling events and cycling challenges I decided it had to be something big so stupidly I signed up for the ride London 100 for the cystic fibrosis trust and they kindly gave me a place to give it a go. No backing nag out now aye
So over the next 7 months I came up with a training plan got myself a Physio and changed my diet and nutrition to try and get the most out of my that was mentally and more importantly physical to true and ride this challenge out.
I testa rated light 10 miles 3 times a week and then slowly increased my mileage week by week and slowly but sureLynI increased my mileage 12 miles 14 16 18 20miles 3 times every week whether it be outdoors or on the turbo trainer if I felt like it or felt ill and not up for it I got myself on my bike and trained. I was chuffed when I broke 25 miles in one ride but noticed it was so hard I really struggled. Time for expert advice and there's where nutrition and eating advice became I felt extremely important.so I changed my eating habits and drinking and fuel on bike rides and luckily I won a competition and high 5 very kindly supplied me with isotonic drinks caffeine drinks and isotonic/carb gels and along with small tweaks I got over that 25 mile barrier and soon hit 30 miles and increased my endurance and speed not by much but just like team sky I was getting marginal gains and each gain was giving me better performance. Then all of a sudden I felt like I was slowing and was getting ill but feeling like I could feel it so early I went to hospital and got some oral antibiotics and two weeks later and still training things became good again and I soon hit 40 miles a ride and able to train three times a week again two rides of two hours per week and one ride a week as a biggy I.e three to four hour rides by now it was about may time and training was going well and by early June I was doing 50 mile rides. And stupidly I was starting to feel confident about the challenge ahead. One last course of oral antibiotics just to cover and a cough I had and soon enough it was the week before the ride
I had raised a couple grand in sponsorship I had all my stuff ready like clothing and food etc sorted and I was having my last sports massage before the bike day. Where he proceeded to scare me, I had know for a while that I was having some problems with my right knee but when he checked it over he explained it was feeling and looking a tad nasty. Nothing permanent but no more riding until the ride and plenty of hot baths and ice to try and help loosen the muscles tendons and ligaments in my right leg and more importantly around my knee. So for 8 days I did that ice as much as possible and all I did on the bike was 2 30 minute rides just as a warm up but I got through the week and actually the knee felt like it was loosening up and no pain when bending or walking so I felt good for the ride.
24 hours before the ride
So I had officially registered slept well for the few days before and been carb loading pasta and porridge in prep for the ride I hoped I was ready to go and my bike looked amazing wi it's yellow bars and numbers on
I have to be honest my confidence had disappeared and I was now scared stiff that I was trying to do too much
Ride day
It arrived so quick but time went so quick I nearly missed the start due to getting stuck in traffic and then having to walk the last mile to the start line in total panic but we soon arrived at the start.
One last check of my phone and a quick picture and I was soon in line to get on my way
My fiancée said I just looked blank in my face like I had my serious face on no nerves just looking ahead I didn't look in fear apparently just that I knew what was about to happen
The ride start
I was soon on the start line gopro on one quick flapjack eaten and go. Feet clipped in and I set off still not knowing what was to come.
Feelings during the ride and a false sense of security
I quickly covered 28 miles approximately in under 2 hours and feeling good and positive with my time I fuelled up with more carb drinks and food agreed to meet my fiancé dad and daughter at forking at 65 miles and set off. From 28 miles to 51 miles it felt like hell very up and down and I slowed dramatically the next 23 miles took me over 2 hours and I was losing time massively and to top it off I had experienced my first proper hill at 47 miles new lands corner and I couldn't ride it I walked. At the food/drink stop I was ruined and very emotional they were already giving us the hurry up or the sweeper team would have no choice but to pick me up and I would fail. Scared stiff and losing time I truched on riding through what felt like treacle. I admit I had to miss leith hill a because I arrived so late I had to miss it and b unfortunately a gentlemen had a heart attack and leith hill had to be closed to attend to him. I was soon in dorking at 61 miles still thinking I was going to have to stop and I would fail and we had been stopped for five minutes in dorking due to ambulances coming through to attend to the poor gentleman. And I was now crying and to top it off I thought I had missed my Fiancee and family and was now feeling at my lowest like that was the end of my challenge then luckily a lady on the side of the road explained to me where I was having overheard my conversation and calmed me by explaining my fiancée and family were just around the corner. Another cyclist helped me and gave me a boost with some kind words and having stopped crying but still emotional we got moving again and I soon saw the boost I needed my fiancée dad and daughter. With a few hugs kisses and some more food onboard I was off again. Still emotional but no longer crying it was just the boost I needed, honestly if I hadn't of seen them at dorking I was getting ready to stop, I thought I couldn't do.
64 miles and box hill
I got to box hill and had no choice but go up and over it. I tried riding it, I couldn't so bit by bit I walked pushing my bike up the hill. I even had to remove my shoes to give my feet a rest but I then had a horrible feeling of failure again and rode the last third with another lady who encouraged me up the hill. And I managed it top of box hill 67 miles a quick drink food and wee stop and I was now in fear that failure was imminent. Not if when. At the top of box hill we were told we had only two and a half hours to cover 33 miles to the finish. I thought the game was up. I was in pain huge amounts of it I could hardly hold the bars or sit in the saddle but I thought sod it if I'm going to fail lets at least see how close we get to home before failure catches me. I was told that from box hill it was mainly downhill. So I thought lets go as fast as we can see if we can make up time. With hardly any energy or grip I hit the first downhill from box hill as fast as I could just over 40 mph which may not sound a lot but on a pushbike it f**king fast and scary but I thought keep going finish or fall off was all I had. And I thought at least if I fell off downhill it meant I didn't fail because I stopped which in my head sounded better and I was already in the worst pain I'd ever felt. THEN a hill up bloody hill again I tried I couldn't so walking it was. 75 miles in top of the hill and a huge downhill again. Tucked in pedalling over 40mph again with the same mentally do it or fall don't stop. It hurt let me tell you a lot. I can't describe how bad I was numb but in extreme pain I could feel every bump and had t o hold on with anything I had now Constantine feeding/fuelling myself whenever I could as I felt empty.
Then
Hang on I was at 75 miles, 25 miles to go, might I make it? 75 became 80 miles and I still felt like I might collapse at any moment and to top it off we were caught up by Marshall bikers or lanterns I think they are called who warned us if we didn't average at least 15mph from 80 miles to the finish we would be stopped and removed from the road and no finish meant no medal. That medal had been my dream for nearly 8 months not just because of it being a material item but because what it would mean for me mentally I absolutely needed this.
Failure was fast approaching from behind but success ahead was getting closer
I thought to myself if you fail you have to try again, and with the pain I was in and how I felt I had a little cry and nearly stopped as I couldn't breath then I thought no I can't do this again get flipping going Jamie you didn't come here for nothing your letting everyone down
85 miles
I stopped to fill up with water. Nothing left at the drinks stop. Gutted then two members in the crowd rushed to the local shop and bought a ton me of water and started handing to us. I refilled scoffed a caffeine gel and the last of my jelly babies I just thought get your head down and pedal. 15 miles to do in about 50 minutes we got to try at least.
One last hill was this to be my end?
So I reached Wimbledon village and the bottom of the dreaded hill I had been warned about. I couldn't pedal I thought that was it. Then the lantern marshals appeared, I had started walking up the hill slowly pushing myself and my bike up. I can't describe without swearing a lot how I felt the pain I was in and my chest was agony not to mention my legs, I stopped and one of the lady lantern marshals cycled next to me and literally shouted at me
"You want that medal don't you?" " of course" I replied "what a bloody stupid question"
And she shouted again "well if you don't ride up here I'm stopping you your be out and you won't ever get that medal, better luck next year"
And I don't now how but I got on and did just that, pedalled with this lady, oh ouch I just about got to the top and just rolled over the brow and she stopped and shouted as I rolled on
" now go get that medal"
11 miles to go
I just got my head down and flew down the next hill nice and steep through this little town bit over 40 mph again now wanting it more than ever. 10 miles to go all flat I just kept pedalling head down hardest gear I could push and going, then o very a bridge and I realised I could see all the beautiful sights of London still pedalling, I took a second to admire my surroundings and then just pedalling,
6 miles to go mostly next to the Thames, beautiful views
Public support
One thing I need to say and no amount of words will show it but the public were amazing, from the first mile all the way along the route, kids on hills telling you to get a move on, old couples on the hills with their cups of tea clapping, families and parties along the route all shouting support at you
You can do it
Keep going
Another mile done
Keep going Mr cystic fibrosis
And the people handing out food and drink,
Everybody on the route was amazing I can't tell you how much that kept me going mile to mile such great support
Then all of a sudden I hear, go on sir under 2 miles to go, your going to do it don't stop
And now I'm riding next to Houses of Parliament still trying to go as hard as I could in fear of van noises
Why? Because every van I heard I thought it would be a sweeper van coming to get me and I would fail. Then I can see Trafalgar Square, not realising where I was I'm told to turn right, then it dawns on me
THE MALL AND THE FINISH LINE
I see the entrance to the mall and just ahead of that the finish line
I pedalled still head down I didn't want to stop pedalling until I crossed the line, listening tithe supporting the noise I cried again couldn't breath so stopped myself and crossed the line
I'd only bloody done it. I had finished my biggest challenge ever. I was gutted I had to miss leith hill but I had still done 92 miles and I had made it to the end. I rolled to a stop exhausted utterly empty got off my bike and walked the short distance to the medal cue, and started to cry again and the lady put that beautiful medal over my head and around my neck, I walked on now in a day dream of success and disbelief utter exhaustion and feeling totally f**ked I held my medal tight showed it to the camera turned my camera off and then literally collapsed on the side of the road, I momentarily fell asleep/passed out but a kind man I had met on the ride nudged me and asked me if I was okay and well done we exchanged congratulations and he headed on his way.
I sat thinking but to be honest I'm not sure what just in a daze. And the next thing I know I'm being cuddled by my fiancée and daughter and those were the best cuddles ever it made me realise i made it safe and was safe with my family.
I could barely move but it was so worth it but NEVER AGAIN haha
I was glad of the long drive home my back bum legs and especially arms and hands were ruined.
And I didn't fail
I made it and with a lung function that at best is only 55% what a normal person has, basically imagine having done the bike ride with basically only one full lung, that's what I achieved ,someone like me has no right doing that but against the odds the training, maybe ignorance, support that family stop at 60 odd miles and most definitely fear got me to the end
Thank you all
I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me, sponsored me and who sent me good luck messages and kind words without you all I'd never have done it
And sorry to my family for the stress I caused and especially my fiancée for putting up with my stress, training and generally being a pain in the arse, you all have been amazing.
I'm still recovering but I'm gettin back on the bike very soon and going to keep riding and call it training and go on a few rides while I decide what to do next
Triathlon and London to Paris keeps getting mentioned, but who knows, I need to decide soon though whatever I do, all I know is it has to be a biggy
But I don't know if I will ever top this achievement not in physicality but in the huge mental boost its given me, it's answered a lot of questions I had about myself and it's gone along way to stop me doubting myself
It's taken a few days for it to really sink in and it still hasn't fully now but it will I'm know it
Thank you to you all for supporting me
